System and method for electric vehicle charging and billing using a wireless vehicle communication service

ABSTRACT

A vehicle charging station for use in transmitting charging power to an electric vehicle for use in charging the vehicle is configured to communicatively couple to the electric vehicle via a network connection to a wireless network provider and electrically couple to the electric vehicle via a connector. Vehicle charging station is further configured to receive a unique identifier from the electric vehicle via the network connection, deliver a quantity of electrical charging power to the electric vehicle via the connector, and meter the quantity of electrical charging power delivered to the electric vehicle.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional and claims priority to U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/341,875, filed Dec. 22, 2008, for “SYSTEM ANDMETHOD FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING AND BILLING USING A WIRELESSVEHICLE COMMUNICATION SERVICE”, which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety and is assigned to the assignee of the presentinvention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The subject matter disclosed herein relates generally to the charging ofa mobile electric load and more specifically, to systems and methods foruse in identifying an electric vehicle for use in an electric chargingtransaction.

As electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles gain popularity, anassociated need to accurately manage delivery of electrical chargingpower to them has increased. Moreover, a need to recognize revenue dueto the electricity supplier is created by the increased use of suchvehicles.

At least some known transaction systems facilitate identifying a vehicleduring a transaction via wireless communications such as RFID and remotetransmitters. For example, at least some of such systems read a prepaidRFID card carried within a vehicle to collect expressway tolls while thevehicle moves within a predetermined range of speed through a tollbooth. The vehicle is identified based on the RFID card and a tollamount is automatically deducted from an existing account.

Moreover, at least some known communications systems enable thedistribution of data, such as operating data, between a vehicle on-boardcomputer and transponders located either within the vehicle or remotelyfrom the vehicle. For example, transponders within the vehicle maycommunicate vehicular operating conditions to the on-board computer.Moreover, transponders remote to the vehicle may communicate toll boothinformation, service information, parking costs, and/or road conditionsto the on-board computer. Furthermore, at least some known transactionsystems enable transaction information to be communicated between avehicle-mounted interface and a remote transaction unit. For example,transaction information may be communicated between the vehicle-mountedinterface system and a bank teller unit used to withdraw and/or depositfunds to an account. Moreover, transaction information may becommunicated between the vehicle-mounted interface system and adrive-through point-of-sale system used to purchase goods and/orservices.

In addition, at least some known electricity delivery systems provideelectric metering at a customer's premises. For example, some deliverysystems use an encoded magnetic strip applied to a card to transferpurchase information between a utility billing office and a utilitymetering and control device located at the customer's premises. A creditmeter stored within the control device deducts a value associated with aquantity of electricity consumed at the customer's premises. Some ofsuch systems also enable the use of an emergency card that includes asimilar encoded magnetic strip when the customer's account with thepre-purchased quantity is exhausted. However, generally such systems donot meter electrical charging power delivered to a specific electricload, and are thus not compatible for use with electric vehicles.

Furthermore, at least some known systems enable remote monitoring ofelectricity consumption. For example, some delivery systems provideremote monitoring via wireless communication between a communicationdevice associated with an electricity meter and a site controller. Morespecifically, a communication device receives data from an associatedelectric meter that is indicative of a quantity of electricity metered,and generates a transmitted message to the site controller via awireless communication network. However, such systems are intended foruse in metering electricity for a stationary site and not for use with anormally mobile electric load, such as an electric vehicle.

However, none of the above-described communication and/or transactionsystems enable an electric vehicle charging station to obtain a uniqueidentifier of an electric vehicle for use in a transaction that includesdelivering electrical charging power to the electric vehicle.Accordingly, systems and methods that facilitate identifying an electricvehicle prior to delivering electrical charging power and/or recognizingrevenue from the delivery of electrical charging power to electricvehicles is desirable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This Brief Description is provided to introduce a selection of conceptsin a simplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This Brief Description is not intended to identify keyfeatures or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is itintended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimedsubject matter.

In one aspect, a vehicle charging station for use in transmittingcharging power to an electric vehicle for use in charging the vehicle isconfigured to communicatively couple to the electric vehicle via anetwork connection to a wireless network provider and electricallycouple to the electric vehicle via a connector. Vehicle charging stationis further configured to receive a unique identifier from the electricvehicle via the network connection, deliver a quantity of electricalcharging power to the electric vehicle via the connector, and meter thequantity of electrical charging power delivered to the electric vehicle.

In another aspect, a vehicle charging system for use with charging anelectric vehicle includes a vehicle charging station configured tocommunicatively couple to the electric vehicle via a network connectionto a wireless network provider, electrically couple to the electricvehicle via a connector, receive a unique identifier of the electricvehicle via the network connection, and deliver a quantity of electricalcharging power to the electric vehicle via the connector. Vehiclecharging station further includes a server system coupled to saidvehicle charging station, said server system configured to determine anaccount associated with the identifier, and determine a transactionamount based on the quantity of electrical charging power delivered tothe electric vehicle by said vehicle charging station.

In yet another aspect, a method for charging an electric vehicleincludes communicatively coupling a vehicle charging station to theelectric vehicle via a network connection to a wireless network providerand electrically coupling the vehicle charging station to the electricvehicle via a connector. The method further includes receiving a uniqueidentifier of the electric vehicle via the network connection,determining an account associated with the identifier, delivering aquantity of electrical charging power to the electric vehicle via theconnector, and determining a transaction amount based on the quantity ofelectrical charging power delivered to the electric vehicle at thevehicle charging station.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of an exemplary electricitydelivery system for use with an electric vehicle.

FIG. 2 is an expanded block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of asystem architecture of the system shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method for use indelivering electrical charging power to an electric vehicle using thesystem shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As used herein, the term “electric vehicle” includes any vehicle thatincludes one or more electric motors that are used for propulsion, suchas an all-electric vehicle that uses only electricity, and/or a plug-inhybrid-electric vehicle that uses a gas powered engine in combinationwith batteries charged by an external power source or an engine andgenerator, to propel the vehicle. In addition, the term “electricvehicle” includes any suitable vehicle known to those skilled in the artand guided by the teachings herein provided that is capable ofperforming the functions described herein. Moreover, the term “wirelessnetwork provider” refers generally to an entity providing a wirelesscommunications network that includes two or more wireless communicationdevices. Those having ordinary skill in the art and guided by theteachings herein provided would understand that a wireless networkprovider enables communications of any type or combination ofinformation, including, without limitation, audio, video, and/or data.

A controller, computing device, or computer, such as described herein,includes at least one or more processors or processing units and asystem memory. The controller typically also includes at least some formof computer readable media. By way of example and not limitation,computer readable media may include computer storage media andcommunication media. Computer storage media may also include volatileand nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in anymethod or technology that enables storage of information, such ascomputer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, orother data. Communication media typically embody computer readableinstructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in amodulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transportmechanism and include any information delivery media. Those skilled inthe art should be familiar with the modulated data signal, which has oneor more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as toencode information in the signal. Combinations of any of the above arealso included within the scope of computer readable media.

Although described in connection with an exemplary energy deliverysystem environment, embodiments of the invention are operational withnumerous other general purpose or special purpose computing systemenvironments or configurations. The energy delivery system environmentis not intended to suggest any limitation as to the scope of use orfunctionality of any aspect of the invention. Moreover, the energydelivery system environment should not be interpreted as having anydependency or requirement relating to any one or combination ofcomponents illustrated in the exemplary operating environment. Examplesof well known systems, environments, and/or configurations that may besuitable for use with aspects of the invention include, but are notlimited to, personal computers, server computers, hand-held or laptopdevices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based systems, set topboxes, programmable consumer electronics, mobile telephones, networkPCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, distributed computingenvironments that include any of the above systems or devices, and thelike.

Embodiments of the invention may be described in the general context ofcomputer-executable instructions, such as program modules, executed byone or more controllers, computers, or other devices. Aspects of theinvention may be implemented with any number and organization ofcomponents or modules. For example, aspects of the invention are notlimited to the specific computer-executable instructions or the specificcomponents or modules illustrated in the figures and described herein.Alternative embodiments of the invention may include differentcomputer-executable instructions or components having more or lessfunctionality than illustrated and described herein.

The order of execution or performance of the operations in theembodiments of the invention illustrated and described herein is notessential, unless otherwise specified. That is, the operations may beperformed in any order, unless otherwise specified, and embodiments ofthe invention may include additional or fewer operations than thosedisclosed herein. For example, it is contemplated that executing orperforming a particular operation before, contemporaneously with, orafter another operation is within the scope of aspects of the invention.

In some embodiments, a processor includes any programmable systemincluding systems and microcontrollers, reduced instruction set circuits(RISC), application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), programmablelogic circuits (PLC), and any other circuit or processor capable ofexecuting the functions described herein. The above examples areexemplary only, and thus are not intended to limit in any way thedefinition and/or meaning of the term processor.

In some embodiments, a database includes any collection of dataincluding hierarchical databases, relational databases, flat filedatabases, object-relational databases, object oriented databases, andany other structured collection of records or data that is stored in acomputer system. The above examples are exemplary only, and thus are notintended to limit in any way the definition and/or meaning of the termdatabase. Examples of databases include, but are not limited to onlyincluding, Oracle® Database, MySQL, IBM® DB2, Microsoft® SQL Server,Sybase®, and PostgreSQL. However, any database may be used that enablesthe systems and methods described herein. (Oracle is a registeredtrademark of Oracle Corporation, Redwood Shores, Calif.; IBM is aregistered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation,Armonk, N.Y.; Microsoft is a registered trademark of MicrosoftCorporation, Redmond, Wash.; and Sybase is a registered trademark ofSybase, Dublin, Calif.)

Technical effects of the methods, systems, and vehicle charging stationherein include at least one of communicatively coupling a vehiclecharging station to the electric vehicle via a network connection to awireless network provider, electrically coupling the vehicle chargingstation to the electric vehicle via a connector, receiving a uniqueidentifier of the electric vehicle via the network connection,determining an account associated with the identifier, determiningwhether to approve or deny service to the electric vehicle, delivering aquantity of electrical charging power to the electric vehicle via theconnector, metering the quantity of electrical charging power delivered,determining a transaction amount based on the quantity of deliveredelectrical charging power, and deducting the transaction amount from theaccount.

FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of an exemplary electricitydelivery system 100 for use with a wireless network provider 101 and anelectric vehicle 102. In the exemplary embodiment, system 100 includes aserver system 104 and a vehicle charging station 106 that is coupled toserver system 104. As shown in FIG. 1, server system 104 may be coupledto a plurality of vehicle charging stations 106. In one embodiment,vehicle charging station 106 is coupled to a network 108 that enablesvehicle charging station 106 to access server system 104 over network108. In one embodiment, network 108 includes a private network such as awide area network. In another embodiment, network 108 includes a publicnetwork, such as the Internet. In the exemplary embodiment, vehiclecharging stations 106 are connected to network 108 through manyinterfaces such as a local area network (LAN), a wide area network(WAN), dial-in-connections, cable modems, wireless modems, and/orspecial high-speed Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) lines. Adatabase server 110 includes a database 112 that contains information ona variety of matters, such as account information related to electricvehicle power distribution. In the exemplary embodiment, centralizeddatabase 112 is stored in server system 104 and is accessed via at leastone vehicle charging station 106. In an alternative embodiment, database112 is stored remotely from server system 104 and may benon-centralized. Moreover, in the exemplary embodiment, each vehiclecharging station 106 is capable of electrically coupling to one or moreelectric vehicles 102 via a connector 114 and providing electricalcharging power to one or more electric vehicles 102 via connector 114.Each electric vehicle 102 stores the electrical charging power and usesthe stored power for propulsion, rather than, or in addition to, moreconventional energy sources such as gasoline.

As described in more detail below, in the exemplary embodiment, eachelectric vehicle 102 includes a unique identifier that is used byvehicle charging station 106 and/or server 104 to identify the electricvehicle 102 and/or an account associated with electric vehicle 102. Forexample, database 112 may include transactional and/or accounting datarelated to prepayment information associated with a quantity ofelectrical charging power that has been paid for in advance for laterdistribution to electric vehicle 102. Moreover, database 112 may includehistorical electrical charging power distribution data, such astransaction dates, and/or a quantity of electrical charging powerdelivered to electric vehicle 102 for each transaction. Further,database 112 may include historical payment information, such asprepayment dates and/or prepayment amounts.

Moreover, those having ordinary skill in the art and guided by theteachings herein provided should understand that wireless networkprovider 101 can use any publicly accessible or any proprietary system,and can use any appropriate access and/or link protocol to communicatewith electric vehicle 102, server system 104, and vehicle chargingstation 106, including, without limitation, analog, digital,packet-based, time division multiple access (TDMA), direct sequence codedivision multiple access (CDMA), frequency hopping CDMA, wideband codedivision multiple access (WCDMA), frequency division multiple access(FDMA), spread spectrum or any other known or future developed access orlink protocol or methodology. The wireless network provider 101 canfurther use any of a variety of networking protocols, such as, UserDatagram Protocol (UDP), Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol(TCP/IP), AppleTalk™, Inter-Packet Exchange/Sequential Packet Exchange(IPX/SPX), Network Basic Input Output System (Net BIOS), or anyproprietary or non-proprietary protocol, to communicate digital voice,data and/or video with electric vehicle 102. Further, using network 108,wireless network provider 101 can communicate with vehicle chargingstation 106 and server 104 using any appropriate access protocol, linkprotocol, and/or network protocol as described above and as is known bythose having ordinary skill in the art and guided by the teachingsherein.

The embodiments illustrated and described herein as well as embodimentsnot specifically described herein, but within the scope of aspects ofthe invention, constitute exemplary means for identifying an electricvehicle via a network connection to a wireless network provider andproviding electrical charging power delivery and metering for theelectric vehicle. For example, server system 104 or vehicle chargingstation 106, or any other similar computer device that is programmedwith computer-executable instructions, as illustrated in FIG. 1,provides exemplary means for identifying an electric vehicle using awirelessly communicated identifier.

FIG. 2 is an expanded block diagram of an exemplary system architecture200 of system 100 (shown in FIG. 1). Components in system architecture200 that are identical to components of system 100 are identified inFIG. 2 using the same reference numerals used in FIG. 1. In theexemplary embodiment, system 200 includes server system 104 and vehiclecharging stations 106. Server system 104 also includes database server110, an application server 202, a web server 204, a directory server206, and a mail server 208. A disk storage unit 210 is coupled todatabase server 110 and to directory server 206. Disk storage unit 210may include, but is not limited to only including, a Network AttachedStorage (NAS) device and/or a Storage Area Network (SAN) device. In oneembodiment, database 112 is stored in database server 110. In theexemplary embodiment, database 112 is coupled to database server 110.Servers 110, 202, 204, 206, and 208 are coupled in a local area network(LAN) 212. Moreover, a system administrator workstation 214, a userworkstation 216, and a supervisor workstation 218 may be coupled to LAN212 to enable communication with server system 104. Alternatively,workstations 214, 216, and 218 may be coupled to LAN 212 using a link toan Internet 219, or may be coupled through a private network. In oneembodiment, an owner or user of electric vehicle 102 may access serversystem 104 via web server 204 to access, for example, the user's accountand/or a payment service that enables the user to pay for electricalcharging power that has been delivered to electric vehicle 102 viaconnector 114 or will be delivered to electric vehicle 102. Moreover, inone embodiment, mail server 208 may be configured to send a message,such as an email message, to the user when the user's account balancefalls below a predetermined balance. Alternatively, a user may setup aperiodic reminder, wherein mail server 208 transmits a message to theuser at a configurable periodic rate or when the account balance reachesa predetermined balance as a reminder to prepay for electrical chargingpower to be delivered later to electric vehicle 102. As used herein, theterm “balance” includes any amount of money available in an account foruse in paying for electrical charging power, such as an amount of cashon deposit and an amount of credit available on an account, including acredit card and line of credit.

Each vehicle charging station 106 includes a network module 220 thatcommunicates with server system 104. For example, server system 104 iscommunicatively coupled to vehicle charging stations 106 to enableserver system 104 to be accessed via the Internet 219. The systems andprocesses, though, are not limited to being practiced using a WAN typecommunication method or Internet 219.

To facilitate communication between electric vehicle 102 and serversystem 104 via wireless network provider 101, electric vehicle 102includes a unique vehicle identifier 222 that is embedded withinelectric vehicle 102. In the exemplary embodiment, identifier 222 is anumber generated by server system 104 upon creation of the user'saccount. In other embodiments, unique vehicle identifier 222 includes amanufacturer provided vehicle identification number (VIN) of electricvehicle 102. In other embodiments, identifier 222 can be one or more ofan electrical charging power supplier account number, a pre-paid storedvalue account number, a credit account number, or any suitableidentifying number of a type known to those skilled in the art andguided by the teachings herein provided that is capable of being used asdescribed herein. In one embodiment, unique vehicle identifier 222 isaccessible only upon authorization by the user of electric vehicle 102,as to restrict unauthorized access to unique vehicle identifier 222. Inanother embodiment, a new unique vehicle identifier 222 is generatedafter completion of one or more of transactions for the delivery ofelectrical charging power, and identifier 222 is stored in electricvehicle and server system 104 for a subsequent transaction. Electricvehicle 102 also includes a vehicle communications module 224 for use incommunicatively coupling electric vehicle to server system 104 and tovehicle charging station 106 via a network connection to wirelessnetwork provider 101.

In the exemplary embodiment, identifier 222 is linked in database 112 toan account associated with electric vehicle 102. An account balance ismaintained within database including prepayments made to the account bythe account owner. Alternatively, identifier 222 may be linked to anaccount associated with a person, such that an account balance may beallocated among one or more electric vehicles 102. Further, in theexemplary embodiment, each vehicle charging station 106 includes astation meter 226 that tracks a quantity of electrical charging powerdelivered to electric vehicle 102 via connector 114. Moreover, in theexemplary embodiment, electric vehicle 102 includes a vehicle meter 228that tracks a quantity of electrical charging power received by electricvehicle 102 via connector 114.

During use, when a customer desires to charge electric vehicle 102 viavehicle charging station 106, electric vehicle 102 is communicativelycoupled to vehicle charging station 106 via wireless network provider101 and to server system 104, and electric vehicle 102 is electricallycoupled to vehicle charging station 106 via connector 114. Morespecifically, identifier 222 is transmitted to server system 104 viawireless network provider 101, and server system 104 determines anaccount associated with identifier 222. In the exemplary embodiment,either wireless network provider 101 and/or server system 104 areoperated by an entity other than an electrical charging power supplier,such as a manufacturer of electric vehicle 102, for example, GeneralMotor's OnStar system, Toyota Motor Corporation's G-Book system, HughesTelematics, as well as other telemetry and telematic-type systemproviders. In another embodiment, network provider 101 and/or serversystem 104 are owned and/or operated by the electrical charging powersupplier. In the exemplary embodiment, after server system 104 hasdetermined the account associated with identifier 222, server system 104determines an account balance. In such an embodiment, if the accountbalance meets a predetermined balance, server system 104 instructsvehicle charging station 106 to enable service to electric vehicle 102.Alternatively, if the account balance does not meet the predeterminedbalance, server system 104 may instruct vehicle charging station 106 todeny service to electric vehicle 102 and display a message to theuser/customer stating the reason for the denial. Further, in such anembodiment, server system 104 may issue a temporary credit to theaccount balance.

In another embodiment, electric vehicle 102 also transmits a location ofelectric vehicle 102 and/or vehicle charging station 106. In such anembodiment, electric vehicle 102 may obtain the location from a GlobalPositioning Satellite receiver (not shown) in electric vehicle 102, fromwireless network provider 101, from vehicle charging station 106, orfrom any means known to those skilled in the art that is capable ofperforming the functions described herein. Moreover, in such anembodiment, server system 104 may use the location information todetermine a different rate per unit of electrical charging power forservice to electric vehicle 102. Further, in such an embodiment, serversystem 104 may also use the location information to determine anavailability of electrical charging power to vehicle charging station106, and based on such a determination, vehicle charging station 106 maydeny service to electric car or delay service to electric car for aperiod of time, as to avoid, for example, peak charging times, a perunit cost higher than desired by the user or the owner of electric car102, or an electricity shortage. In another embodiment, server system104 also communicates with electric vehicle 102 to request the delay ofservice to avoid, for example, peak charging times, a per unit costhigher than desired by the user or the owner of electric car 102, or anelectricity shortage.

In one embodiment, vehicle charging station 106 meters electricalcharging power delivery to electric vehicle 102 via connector 114 atdifferent rate per unit of electrical charging power, such as a higherrate, when a temporary credit is issued. In another embodiment, serversystem 104 may instruct vehicle charging station 106 to deny service toelectric vehicle 102 when the account associated with identifier 222 hasbeen put into a hold state. In such an embodiment, a hold state may beplaced on the account based on, for example, a delinquent payment by thecustomer and/or a report of electric vehicle 102 being stolen.

In the exemplary embodiment, when service to electric vehicle 102 isenabled, vehicle charging station 106 delivers a quantity of electricalcharging power to electric vehicle 102 via connector 114. Duringdelivery, vehicle charging station 106, via station meter 226, andelectric vehicle 102, via vehicle meter 228, each meter the quantity ofelectrical charging power delivered and/or a transaction amount based onthe quantity of electrical charging power delivered. A final transactionamount is determined at the conclusion of the delivery of the electricalcharging power, the final transaction amount is transmitted to serversystem 104, and server system 104 deducts the final transaction amountfrom the account balance. If the final transaction amount is greaterthan the account balance, server system 104 may issue a temporary creditusing a different rate, such as a higher rate, as described above. Inaddition, in one embodiment, upon the conclusion of the delivery of theelectrical charging power, station meter 226 and vehicle meter 228compare the quantity of electrical charging power delivered and/or thefinal transaction amount. If the comparison results in a match, thenvehicle meter 228 generates a receipt. In one embodiment, the receipt isstored in vehicle meter 228. In another embodiment, the receipt is alsotransmitted to vehicle charging station 106 for storage in server system104. This comparison facilitates enabling accuracy of the meteredquantity of electrical charging power delivered and/or ensuring that thecorrect transaction amount is billed to the account and/or deducted fromthe account balance. Moreover, the comparison facilitates ensuring that,if there are multiple electric vehicles 102 receiving electricalcharging power from vehicle charging station 106, the correct account isbilled.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart 300 illustrating an exemplary method for use indelivering electrical charging power to electric vehicle 102 (shown inFIGS. 1 and 2) using the system shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In the exemplaryembodiment, vehicle charging station 106 (shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) iscommunicatively coupled 301 to electric vehicle 102 (shown in FIGS. 1and 2) via the network connection to wireless network provider 101(shown in FIGS. 1 and 2), and vehicle charging station 106 is alsoelectrically coupled 302 to electric vehicle 102 via connector 114(shown in FIGS. 1 and 2). Further, in the exemplary embodiment, serversystem 104 (shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) receives 303 unique vehicleidentifier 222 (shown in FIG. 2) from electric vehicle 102 via thenetwork connection. In the exemplary embodiment, electric vehicle 102and, more specifically, identifier 222, is associated with a customeraccount. Server system 104 determines 304 an account associated withidentifier 222. More specifically, server system 104 determines 304 theuser account associated with identifier 222 within database 108 (shownin FIGS. 1 and 2). In the exemplary embodiment, server system 104 thendetermines 305 a current balance of the customer account.

In one embodiment, server system 104 determines 306 whether to approveor to deny service to electric vehicle 102 and transmits thedetermination to vehicle charging station 106. In such an embodiment, ifthe current balance is less than a predetermined amount, the customer isdenied service at vehicle charging station 106. Further, in such anembodiment, the customer may be prompted to insert a credit card or cashinto a payment accepter device (not shown) coupled to vehicle chargingstation 106. In one embodiment, service may be denied by server system104 if a stolen car report associated with electric vehicle 102 exists.In the exemplary embodiment, the current account balance may beincreased by the account holder remotely using, for example, userworkstation 216 (shown in FIG. 2). For example, in one embodiment, thecustomer may login to server system 104 via user workstation 216 inorder to access a payment program that enables the customer to designatea payment amount to be applied to the account balance. In such anembodiment, the customer also designates a payment source including, butnot limited to, a credit card, a debit card, and/or a banking account.The payment amount, in such an embodiment, is then credited to theaccount balance.

In the exemplary embodiment, a quantity of electrical charging power isdelivered 308 to electric vehicle 102 via vehicle charging station 106through connector 314, and the quantity of electrical charging currentdelivered is metered 310. A transaction amount is determined 312 basedon an actual quantity of electrical charging power delivered to electricvehicle 102 at vehicle charging station 106. More specifically, stationmeter 226 (shown in FIG. 2) meters the quantity of electrical chargingpower delivered. In one embodiment, vehicle charging station 106determines 312 the transaction amount based on the quantity ofelectrical charging power delivered and transmits the transaction amountto server system 104. In another embodiment, vehicle charging station106 transmits, to server system 104, the quantity of electrical chargingpower delivered to electric vehicle 102, and server system 104determines 312 the transaction amount based on the quantity ofelectrical charging power delivered 308. In the exemplary embodiment,the transaction amount is then compared 313 to the current balance inthe customer account. If the transaction amount is less than the currentbalance, the transaction amount is deducted 314 from the currentbalance. The new balance is then stored in database 112. In oneembodiment, the new balance is transmitted by server system 104 tovehicle charging station 106 and is displayed to the user/customer.

In an alternative embodiment, the new balance is also transmitted toelectric vehicle 102 via the network connection to wireless networkprovider 101 and is displayed to the customer via vehicle meter 228(shown in FIG. 2). If the current balance is less than the transactionamount, the customer account may be credited with the difference betweenthe transaction amount and the current balance, and the customer may bebilled for the difference at a later time. In such an embodiment, thebilling rate may be changed for any electrical charging powerdistributed on credit. Alternatively, the customer may be prompted tosubmit payment to vehicle charging station by, for example, the customerbeing prompted to insert a credit card into the payment acceptancedevice (not shown) coupled to vehicle charging station 106. In theexemplary embodiment, a confirmation of the receipt of the deliveredelectrical charging power is generated 308 by vehicle meter 228. Thereceipt may be used by the customer to verify a quantity of electricalcharging power delivered and/or a cost per unit of electrical chargingpower. The receipt may be generated by electric vehicle 102 and storedin electric vehicle 102 and database 112. Alternatively, the receipt maybe generated by server system 104, stored in database 112, andtransmitted to electric vehicle 102 via a network connection to wirelessnetwork provider 101. In addition, in one embodiment, an adjustedcurrent balance may be displayed to the customer via vehicle chargingstation 106 to reflect a deduction of the transaction amount from theaccount.

Described in detail herein are exemplary embodiments of methods,systems, and computers that facilitate delivering electrical chargingpower to vehicles, such as electric vehicles. More specifically, theembodiments described herein facilitate identifying an electric vehicleat a vehicle charging station using a unique identifier embedded withinthe electric vehicle. Identifying an electric vehicle via a networkconnection to a wireless network provider facilitates automaticdeduction of a transaction amount from an account. Such an automaticdeduction facilitates time savings for a customer and greater ease incollecting revenue for an electric distribution utility.

The methods and systems described herein are not limited to the specificembodiments described herein. For example, components of each systemand/or steps of each method may be used and/or practiced independentlyand separately from other components and/or steps described herein. Inaddition, each component and/or step may also be used and/or practicedwith other assembly packages and methods.

While the invention has been described in terms of various specificembodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the inventioncan be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of theclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A vehicle charging station for use in deliveringelectrical charging power to an electric vehicle that includes a uniqueidentifier associated therewith, said vehicle charging stationcomprising: a connector configured to electrically couple the vehiclecharging station to the electric vehicle; a station meter configured totrack a quantity of electrical charging power delivered to the electricvehicle via the connector; and a processor, wherein the processor uponexecution of a module, is configured to: communicatively couple, over anetwork and via a network connection to a wireless network provider, thevehicle charging station to the electric vehicle; communicativelycouple, over the network, the vehicle charging station to a serversystem; receive the unique identifier from the electric vehicle;transmit the unique identifier to the server system; wherein the serversystem determines an account associated with the unique identifier,determines a present balance of the account and generate a chargingapproval or a charging denial based on the balance; wherein a chargingdenial denies access to electrical charging power at the vehiclecharging station when the present balance of the account is less than apredetermined amount; and wherein a charging approval provides access toelectrical charging power at the vehicle charging station when thepresent balance of the account is greater than the predetermined amount;wherein the processor, upon execution of a module, is further configuredto: receive an input from the server system comprising one of a chargingapproval and a charging denial; when the input is a charging denial,prevent a charging output for charging the electric vehicle and displaya message indicating a reason for the prevention of the charging output;and when the input is a charging approval deliver a quantity ofelectrical charging power to the electric vehicle via the connector andmeter the quantity of electrical charging power delivered to theelectric vehicle via the station meter.
 2. A vehicle charging station inaccordance with claim 1, wherein said processor, upon execution of themodule, is further configured to transmit, to the server system, thequantity of electrical charging power delivered to the electric vehicleto determine a transaction amount.
 3. A vehicle charging station inaccordance with claim 1, wherein said processor, upon execution of themodule, is further configured to compare the metered quantity ofelectrical charging power delivered to the electric vehicle with ametered value determined by the electric vehicle.
 4. A vehicle chargingstation in accordance with claim 1, wherein said processor, uponexecution of the module, is configured to display at least one of thequantity of electrical charging power delivered to the electric vehicle,a monetary value of the quantity of electrical charging power deliveredto the electric vehicle, and a quantity of electrical charging powerremaining to be delivered to the electric vehicle.
 5. A vehicle chargingstation in accordance with claim 1, wherein the vehicle charging stationis coupled to at least one visual display, the at least one visualdisplay is attached to at least one of the electric vehicle and thevehicle charging station; and wherein said processor upon execution ofthe module, is further configured to output to the at least one displayat least one of the quantity of electrical charging power delivered tothe electric vehicle, a monetary value of the quantity of electricalcharging power delivered to the electric vehicle, and a quantity ofelectrical charging power remaining to be delivered to the electricvehicle.
 6. A method for delivering electrical charging power to anelectric vehicle that includes a unique identifier associated therewithusing a vehicle charging station, said method comprising: electricallycoupling the vehicle charging station to the electric vehicle via aconnector; tracking, by the vehicle charging station, a quantity ofelectrical charging power delivered to the electric vehicle via theconnector; communicatively coupling, over a network and via a networkconnection to a wireless network provider, the vehicle charging stationto the electric vehicle; communicatively coupling, over the network, thevehicle charging station to a server system; receiving the uniqueidentifier from the electric vehicle; transmitting the unique identifierto the server system; wherein the server system determines an accountassociated with the unique identifier, determines a present balance ofthe account, and generates a charging approval or a charging denialbased on the balance; wherein a charging denial denies access toelectrical charging power at the vehicle charging station when thepresent balance of the account is less than a predetermined amount; andwherein a charging approval provides access to electrical charging powerat the vehicle charging station when the present balance of the accountis greater than the predetermined amount; receiving, by the vehiclecharging station, an input from the server system comprising one of acharging approval and a charging denial; when the input is a chargingdenial, preventing, by the vehicle charging station, a charging outputfor charging the electric vehicle and displaying, by the vehiclecharging station, a message indicating a reason for the prevention ofthe charging output; when the input is a charging approval, delivering,by the vehicle charging station, a quantity of electrical charging powerto the electric vehicle via the connector and metering, by the vehiclecharging station, the quantity of electrical charging power delivered tothe electric vehicle via the station meter.
 7. A method in accordancewith claim 6 further comprising transmitting, to the server, thequantity of electrical charging power delivered to the electric vehicleto determine a transaction amount.
 8. A method in accordance with claim6 further comprising comparing the metered quantity of electricalcharging power delivered to the electric vehicle with a metered valuedetermined by the electric vehicle.
 9. A method in accordance with claim6, wherein the vehicle charging station is coupled to at least onevisual display, the at least one visual display is attached to at leastone of the electric vehicle and the vehicle charging station, and themethod further comprises outputting to the at least one display at leastone of a quantity of electrical charging power delivered to the electricvehicle, a monetary value of the quantity of electrical charging powerdelivered to the electric vehicle, and a quantity of electrical chargingpower remaining to be delivered to the electric vehicle.